Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2017
464. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to examine rolling out a scheme whereby community groups can apply for grant assistance to provide community defibrillators. [34118/17]
View answerMy Department does not currently administer a specific grant aid scheme to support the purchase of community defibrillators. However under the Emergency First Response Support measure of the CLÁR programme this year, community groups could apply for funding to support the purchase of defibrillators in the context of an emergency first response effort. Applicants were required to provide evidence that they were a recognised part of an overall emergency response effort supported by the HSE or An Garda Síochána. A total of €1.21 million was approved to a range of organisations under the Emergency First Response measure of the CLÁR programme and the approvals included funding for defibrillators in some cases. Full details of the organisations funded under this measure can be found on my Department's website at http://www.ahrrga.gov.ie/app/uploads/2017/02/clar_measure_4_approvals.pdf.
The Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government also launched a new Community Facilities Scheme last March as part of the Action Plan for Rural Development. This is a small-scale capital grants scheme aimed at disadvantaged rural and urban areas. While the scheme does not specifically support the purchase of community defibrillators, applications for funding such projects may be deemed eligible, subject to various criteria and on a case-by-case basis. The closing date for receipt of applications under the scheme for this year was 30 June 2017. Further information on the Community Facilities Scheme can be found at http://www.housing.gov.ie/community/local-and-community-development/communities-facilities-scheme.
I anticipate that both the CLÁR programme and the Community Facilities Scheme will transfer shortly to the new Department of Rural and Community Development under the remit of Minister Michael Ring.
